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Robert Donnell Bone (1832-1892) was born in Wilson County, Tennessee, and came to Nacogdoches County in 1841 with his mother and stepfather. He and his brothers and sister moved in with his older sister when she married John Winstead Paine in 1846. After a serious illness of pneumonia, R. D. Bone rode horseback to Tennessee and entered the University at Nashville Medical School (which later became Vanderbilt University) in 1854 and returned to Douglass, Texas, to practice medicine after graduating in 1858. That same year he married Griselda Minerva Burk (1841-1912) who was also from Tennessee and had moved to Nacogdoches County, Texas, with her family in 1848. On November 25, 1861, Dr. Bone was appointed to serve as Assistant Surgeon of the 12th Texas Volunteer Infantry, Col. Overton Young's Regiment at Camp Hebert, Hempstead, Austin County, Texas. He felt it was his duty to serve the cause of the Confederacy and eagerly attended his post. As revealed in the following letters exchanged with his wife while on active duty in the Civil War, it soon became clear that he would have to contend with inadequate provisions, boring camp routine and confusing orders. "The Fever", dysentery, measles and exposure were Dr. Bone's patients' main medical problems; his regiment was not involved in any serious fighting. When he resigned his commission on March 7, 1863, in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, he went back to Douglass, Texas, to practice medicine. Dr. Bone also bought cotton and cattle and took them to New Orleans each fall to be sold. Minerva was Post Mistress in Douglass from 1866-1867. Only six of the Bone's 12 children reached adulthood, and two of their sons graduated from the University at Nashville Medical School exactly 50 years after Dr. Bone did. At least eight of his descendants have followed him in serving the medical profession. (Aiken, Roy L. (Pete). "Bone Family." In Nacogdoches County Families, 172. Dallas, Tx.: Curtis Media Corporation, 1985.)

Scope and Content Note

Included in the collection of letters between Dr. Bone and Minerva are letters to the Bones from family and friends, report forms from the post office at Douglass, and two poems (probably written by Dr. Bone). Typescripts for most of the papers in the collection are in a booklet in Box 2. Several 19th century newspapers belonging to Dr. Bone are cataloged and shelved with the newspaper bundles.

Jan 9, 1862 Nacogdoches Co Texas Verry [sic] Dear son I have not heard a letter read from you in some time. Minerva received one from you the other day; but I have not had it in my power to go to see it yet, Isaac and Mary Wade is here to day, Mary says she had saw the letter; she says Minerva and they children is well, we are all as well as common; we have the first freeze this morning that we have had this winter; the ground was frozen tolerably hard, and some ice, we have had a good deal of rain this week; people have been ploughing [sic] a good deal garden look well, our peas is stuck and growing finely; onions looks well, Mrs. Clutes [sic] peas is in full bloom, I would write more to you about everything, but Asenath [sic] is going to write, and I hardly know what to write, to keep from repeating what she will write; we got but little news from the war now, as our paper is stopped; Mr. Cundiff [sic] is going to the war, McWard [sic] started yesterday, they Ladies of Nacdoches [sic] is to present they company with a flag, tomorrow, I understand, next day they started for Gimtown [sic]; in smith county, to rain M. T. Johnston Reg.. Ward said he did not know where they would go to, from there; we have not had a letter from Fenn, in some time; we wrote to Newton and Francincia [sic] this week, I think they will write soon; we have not got a letter from Eliher [sic]yet, (that is since I wrote last) Fosters family some of them, have chills at times yet, James family well; we got a letter from jesse [sic] jones[sic] a few days ago, he was well he was about a hundred miles above El Paso, they had gone to one fort, formed a line and planted their cannon, and thought they were going to fight, but they raised a white flag and that put an end to theire [sic] fight, he said he did not know how long they would stay there; they expect to go on to fort Craig and from there to Santa Fee, then I expect they will have something to do; times is verry [sic] dull here at this time, there is so many gone and still a going that it keeps they people verry [sic] busy getting ready I want you to write every opportunity and give us the news, tell Jim I would write to him but Asenath [sic] and Frances writes all to him that I could tell him; it is not because I don’t wish him well that I do not write to him; but I expect him to see your letters from me, and I want him to be asshured [sic] that, he has my well wishes, and all the rest of they soldiers, especially all they boys of my acquaintance. Bob I expect you have a hard enough time of it where you are; but it is what we all have here; money is scarce and plenty of work to do; I want you to do the best you can for your self and all they rest; I am going to see Minerva and the children as soon as I can, I want to get them to come and stay a while if she can; with us; I feel uneasy for your health, and prosperity sometimes; then I reflect again and think you are as much in the hands of your creator there, as if you were here, I try to live devoting your selves to your creator; may they god of all grace protect you all ways; Levicey D. Hill R. D. Bone Jim Paine Dear Brother As Ma has been writing to you and left some vacant paper I thought I would write to you a few lines I would have written to you before this time but I did not have the money I think maby [sic] that Ike will get enough to put letters in the office anyway Manerva [sic] has been up to our house twice come up one Sundy [sic] evening I had a quilting she was there had both of her little boys with he Manerva [sic] fixes nice looks so neat (brother bob [sic] I feel so sorry for her I know how she feels) I have been down to see her several times Manerva [sic] is verry [sic] industrious she has got her a new wheel. litt [sic] Bill that unkle Irwing [sic] got a letter from Wiliam [sic] Wade yesterday I have not heard what was in it yet you must write to me and I will ansure [sic] your letters I cant half wright [sic] a standing up and they all keep such a feel to R. D. Bone from Mary M. Wade

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